Bronze Boot sign hangs in Home of Economy

The 14-foot-high neon sign that for decades welcomed Grand Forks diners to one of the city’s favorite supper clubs hangs in a new home.

Brothers Wade and Scott Pearson, who are president and CEO of Home of Economy, recently put up the Bronze Boot’s cowboy boot sign in their Grand Forks store, where it now lights up the boot department.

The Pearsons bought the sign for $5,000 in an auction in October and have been restoring the sign, which had broken neon tubing and some rust on its edges, according to a press release from Home of Economy.

The boot formerly lit up the Bronze Boot restaurant, a fixture among Grand Forks’ restaurants for 58 years until it closed in 2012.

“We were neighbors for a lot of years, and we know there’s a lot of sentiment in town for that sign,” said Scott Pearson in the press release. “It will jazz up the store, and we’ll encourage people to come in and take their picture with it.”

The Bronze Boot was on North Washington Street near the Home of Economy. It was demolished this past winter.

1/2: Seen from behind the store's moose mount, Home of Economy employees move the Bronze Boot sign inches at a time while avoiding the ceiling Wednesday afternoon. Photo by Kile Brewer/Grand Forks Herald

2/2: Home of Economy employees use a combination of a forklift and manpower to move the 14-foot-tall Bronze Boot sign to it's new home in the store's boot section. Photo by Kile Brewer/Grand Forks Herald